Drag link



H. B. GARMAN.

DRAG LINK.

APPLICATION FILED AuG.2, |921.

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HARRY s. Gaumen', or DETROIT, MroHIGAN, Assistme. To THE STEEL PRODUCTSomo, A conPoRiaTIoN or omo,

COANY, 0F CLEVELAND Fries.'

DRAG mi;

gan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Drag Links, l(Case BJof which 'the following is a specification, the rinciple of theinvention being herein -explained and the best mode in which 'l havecontemplated applying that principle, so as` to distinguish it fromother inventions.

My invention relates todrag links for use as a part-of thesteeringmechanism of automobiles, and particularly to apparatus of thischaracter of the weldless type. The illustrated type is also a floatingtype of 'drag link, i. e., the bearings are free to float inside thetube and thus to conform to any irregularities of the steering arm andaxle arm balls. Particularly, the invention relates to mechanism ofthischaracter formed from steel tubing and provided with an ap-preciablythickened wall in a section where there is unusual strain in mechanismof this character and which is usually a weak section, viz, the plane ofjuncture of the body of the link with the usual end sockets; also,provided with sections of increased area in the planes of the usual ballopeningsformed in the end sockets. My invention also rela-tes to animproved link in which the usual end plug may be rigidly re-.

tained relatively to the socket by means of the usual Cotter-pins andyet accommodation provided for the central intersectionof said plugs bythe usual grease cups having screwthreaded connections with the plugs.Furthermore, the assembly provides mechanism in which the usual endgrease cups are less liable to be knocked off the link when the same isused asa cross-tube or tie-rod.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detailcertain `means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however,constituting but one of the various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Figure 1 represents a broken central vertical section through a piece oftubing formed into my improved link;

Figure 2 represents a broken partial side elevation and partial centralvertical section of a completely assembled link, including aSpecicatio'nof Letters iatent. Patented `Maty 16, i922.

application ale/a august a, 1921. serial No; 489,362.

suggestion of the4 usual steering and axle arms;

F igure 3 represents transverse vertical section, taken 1n the planeindicated by the lineIII--UL Figure 2;

F igure 4' represents ya transverse vertical section, taken inthe planesindicated by the l1ne.IV-IV, Figure 2; and

Figure 5 represents an end elevation,

taken from the plane indicated by the line' V-V, Figure 2.

, .'Referring to the annexed drawing., in

which the same ordinals refer respectlvely to the same parts in theseveral views, a plece of steel tubing is indicated by the o-rdinal 1,which has been upsetand expanded in a forging machine so as to formtheend sockets 2 having an outside diameter materlally greater than thatof the original tublng 1 anda section around the ball ope-ning,hereinafter fully described, of an increased area. Shoulders 3 are thusprovided whlch serve as `seats at the inner end of sockets 2 for theparts usually associated with thesteeringarm and axle arm connectionsand which will-be hereinafter more fullydescribed. These operationsresult in greatly thickening the wall of the link in the sections of theshoulders 3; in forming S the walls of the enlarged sockets 2 of athickness equal to that of the original piece of tubing 1; and in'strengthening the link in the sections 2 of the ball openings. Theseenlarged ball opening sections also allow for thedrilling and tappingfor grease cups ball cannot be drawn from the assembled link. Theseconnecting arms aie indicated by the ordinals 6 and 7 and the same arecoordinated with the steering and axle mechanisms, respectively, as iswell understood. These connections 6 and 7 are provided, respectively,with balls 8 and 9 which are usual springs 11 formed from round springsteel in the usual Way being also provided.

The assembly is retained in the socket 2 by means of externally-threadedend plugs 12 having engagement With the outer ends of said sockets 2.These plugs 12 are counterbored, drilled and tapped and equipped Withgrease cups 13. The plugs 12 are held rigidly relative to the sockets 2by means of Cotter-pins 14 and, in order that the plugs 12 mayaccommodate the grease cups 13 and still allow for the transverseintersection of the plugs 12 by the Cotter-pins 14, I have counter-boredthe plugs 12 as indicated by the ordinal l5, and have spread the twoarms 14 of the cotter-pins 14 in arcs above and below the grease cups13, as plainly shown in Figure 5. This arrangement also enables so muchof the grease cups 13 to be accommodated Within the plugs 12 as toprovide more clearance for said cups s`o that the same are not so liableto beiknocked 01T the link when the latter is used as a cross-tube ortie-rod. The blocks 10 are provided with central holes 16 andcommunicating transverse grooves 17 for effectively passing thelubricant to the balls 8 and 9 and uniformly distributing the same uponthe surfaces of said balls.

By reason of forming the sections 2' of increased area, I have greatlystrengthened the link in the planes of the-ball openings and have alsoprovided means allowing for l the drilling and tapping for greasecups tobe set at any desired angle as illustrated by cup 13 at the left handend of Figure 2;

zalso see Figure 4. In Figure 2, for purposes of illustration, I haveshown the grease cups in both positions, i. e., cups 13 at the right endof the figure, intersecting plugs 12, and cups 13at the left end of thefigure, mounted in enlarged areas 2".

`What I -claim is:

LA drag link consisting of a piece of tubing having a socket portion ofenlarged diameter, said socket portion having a ball lever receivingslot therein, the wall of saidl socket portion being thickened at theslotted portion thereof.

2. A drag link consisting of a piece of tubing having a socket portionof enlarged diameter, a portion of the wall of said socket portionintermediate the ends thereof being thickened, said socket portionhaving a ball lever receiving slot therein, said slot having an enlargedball entering portion and a narrower ball retaining portion, theenlarged portion of said slot being formed in the thickened portion ofthe socket Wall.

3. The method of forming a drag link which comprises upsetting an endportion of a piece of tubing to thicken the wall thereof, expandingsaidWall to enlarge the internal ldiameter thereof.

4. The method of forming a drag link which ,comprises expanding anendportion thereof to form an end socket'of enlarged diameter and upsettingthe metal at the inner end of the socket to form a thick ,walledshoulder.

5. The method of forming a drag link, which comprises upsetting andexpanding an end of a piece of tubing to form an end socket of enlargeddiameter, and upsetting the Wall of the socket to` form acircumferential reinforcing rib.

. Signed by me this 23d day of June, 1921. v

HARRY B. GARMAN.

